U.S. patent application number 13/176571 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-02 for image capturing apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Naomi Mori, Koji Yoshida.
Application Number | 20120026379 13/176571 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45526367 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120026379 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mori; Naomi ; et
al. |
February 2, 2012 |
IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE
MEDIUM
Abstract
An image capturing apparatus has a plurality of predetermined
temperatures to be compared with the temperature of an image
sensor. Every time a detected temperature of the image sensor
exceeds one of the plurality of temperatures, a different
predetermined indication corresponding to the predetermined
temperature is displayed on a display device together with an image
signal output from the image sensor, thereby giving a warning to
the user.
Inventors: |
Mori; Naomi; (Kawasaki-shi,
JP) ; Yoshida; Koji; (Fujisawa-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
45526367 |
Appl. No.: |
13/176571 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/333.02 ;
348/E5.024 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 17/20 20130101;
H04N 5/23293 20130101; H04N 5/23216 20130101; H04N 5/232941
20180801; G06F 9/453 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/333.02 ;
348/E05.024 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/225 20060101
H04N005/225 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 2, 2010 |
JP |
2010-173966 |
Claims
1. An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing
unit; a detecting unit configured to detect a temperature of said
image capturing unit; a display control unit configured to perform
live view display for displaying, in series, images successively
captured by said image capturing unit on a display unit; and a
control unit configured to control, every time the temperature of
said image capturing unit detected by said detecting unit exceeds
one of a plurality of temperatures, the display unit to display a
different predetermined indication corresponding to the temperature
while the live view display is performed.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
temperatures include at least two of a first temperature, a second
temperature higher than the first temperature, and a third
temperature higher than the second temperature.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control unit
causes the display unit to display, when the temperature of said
image capturing unit detected by said detecting unit exceeds the
first temperature, an indication indicating that degradation occurs
in a captured still image in still image capturing, the display
unit to display, when the detected temperature exceeds the second
temperature, an indication indicating that degradation occurs in a
captured moving image in moving image capturing, and the display
unit to display, when the detected temperature exceeds the third
temperature, an indication indicating, in advance, that the live
view display on the display unit ends.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of
temperatures include the first temperature.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the temperature
of said image capturing unit detected by said detecting unit
exceeds a fourth temperature higher than the third temperature,
said control unit terminates the live view display.
6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if the plurality of
temperatures include the second temperature, when the temperature
of said image capturing unit detected by said detecting unit
exceeds the second temperature, said control unit prevents said
image capturing unit from capturing a moving image.
7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if the plurality of
temperatures include the first temperature, when the temperature of
said image capturing unit detected by said detecting unit exceeds
the first temperature, said control unit prevents said image
capturing unit from capturing a still image for recording.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the temperature
of said image capturing unit detected by said detecting unit
exceeds the first temperature, said control unit prevents said
image capturing unit from capturing a reference still image for a
manual white balance.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the temperature
of said image capturing unit detected by said detecting unit
exceeds the first temperature, said control unit prevents said
image capturing unit from capturing an image for specifying a
position of a foreign substance adhered to an image sensor or
optical system. of said image capturing unit.
10. A control method for an image capturing apparatus having an
image capturing unit, comprising: a detecting step of detecting a
temperature of the image capturing unit; a display control step of
performing live view display for displaying, in series, images
successively captured by the image capturing unit on a display
unit; and a control step of controlling, every time the temperature
of the image capturing unit detected in the detecting step exceeds
one of a plurality of temperatures, to display a different
predetermined indication corresponding to the temperature in the
display step while the live view display is performed.
11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium which records
a program for causing a computer to execute each step of a control
method for an image capturing apparatus according to claim 10.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a technique for indicating
a warning about the temperature of an image sensor.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] An image capturing apparatus such as a digital camera
includes an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS sensor, and can
process an optical image, formed on the image sensor by an optical
system, as an image signal by photoelectrically converting the
optical image. The obtained image signal is output to a display
device of the image capturing apparatus to be displayed (live-view
displayed), thereby enabling the display device to function as an
electronic viewfinder.
[0005] On the other hand, while the display device functions as an
electronic viewfinder, the temperature of the image sensor
increases due to conversion processing. It is known that as the
temperature of the image sensor increases, noise occurs in the
photoelectrically converted image signal, thereby causing image
quality degradation in a still image captured and obtained
immediately after using the display device as an electronic
viewfinder.
[0006] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-033508 discloses a
technique for displaying a warning when the temperature of an image
sensor exceeds a set limit value, and for forcibly stopping live
view display when the temperature reaches a predetermined use limit
temperature, in order to prevent image quality degradation in a
still image.
[0007] However, for a moving image, since a user rarely browses one
frame of the moving image for a long time unlike a still image, it
is possible to allow some noise caused by a high temperature of the
image sensor. That is, the temperature of the image sensor at which
it is possible to capture a moving image with image quality
degradation unperceivable by the user can be set higher than that
at which the user perceives image quality degradation in a still
image. Since the display device of the image capturing apparatus
used as an electronic viewfinder is typically a low-resolution
display device, its allowable noise level is higher as compared
with a captured and obtained moving image.
[0008] In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2009-033508, since live view display is stopped when the
temperature of the image sensor reaches a predetermined temperature
at which image quality degradation occurs in a obtained still
image, live view display does not restart until the temperature of
the image sensor falls to a predetermined temperature or below.
That is, the user may not be able to capture a moving image while
browsing the electronic viewfinder, or to use the electronic
viewfinder instead of a telescope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the
problems of the conventional technique. The present invention
provides a technique for indicating, step by step, to the user an
operation to be warned depending on the temperature of an image
sensor.
[0010] The present invention in its first aspect provides an image
capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing unit; a
detecting unit configured to detect a temperature of the image
capturing unit; a display control unit configured to perform live
view display for displaying, in series, images successively
captured by the image capturing unit on a display unit; and a
control unit configured to control, every time the temperature of
the image capturing unit detected by the detecting unit exceeds one
of a plurality of temperatures, the display unit to display a
different predetermined indication corresponding to the temperature
while the live view display is performed.
[0011] Further features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
(with reference to the attached drawings).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 a block diagram showing the functional configuration
of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a view for explaining temperature thresholds
according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a view showing examples of an indication GUI
associated with an image sensor temperature warning according to
the embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are views each showing a GUI associated
with a temperature warning displayed on a display unit according to
the embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating temperature warning
display processing according to the embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating temperature warning
display processing according to a modification of the embodiment of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] With reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred
embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail
below. In the embodiment to be explained below, the present
invention is applied to a digital camera, as an example of an image
capturing apparatus, capable of detecting the temperature of an
image sensor and outputting it to the display device of the image
capturing apparatus.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional
configuration of a digital camera 100 according to the embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] A control unit 101 is, for example, a CPU, which controls
the operation of each block of the digital camera 100 by reading
out an operation program for each block of the digital camera 100
from an EEPROM 102, mapping the program on the RAM 103, and then
executing the program. The EEPROM 102 is a rewritable non-volatile
memory, which stores parameters and the like necessary for the
operation of each block as well as the operation program for each
block of the digital camera 100. The EEPROM 102 also stores GUI
data and the like associated with various indications to be
displayed on a display unit 110 (to be described later). The RAM
103 is a rewritable volatile memory, which is used as a temporary
storage area for data and settings output in the operation of each
block of the digital camera 100, or as an operation area for the
operation of each block.
[0021] An image capturing unit 105 is, for example, an image sensor
such as a CCD or CMOS sensor, which photoelectrically converts an
optical image formed by an optical system 104 including an imaging
lens and focus lens, and outputs an image signal (analog image
signal) to an A/D converter 107. Note that the image capturing unit
105 can capture a desired focal length or zoom position when a
driving unit 106 drives the optical system 104 on an optical axis.
The A/D converter 107 executes A/D conversion processing for the
analog image signal input by the image capturing unit 105, and
outputs obtained digital image data. An image processing unit 108
performs predetermined signal processing such as signal level
adjustment, pixel interpolation, color conversion, and
compression/decompression processing for the digital image data
output from the A/D converter 107, and then outputs obtained
digital image data to a storage medium 112. The storage medium 112
is, for example, a storage device such as an internal memory of the
digital camera 100, or a memory card or HDD detachably connected to
the digital camera 100, which records the digital image data output
from the image processing unit 108.
[0022] A D/A converter 109 executes D/A conversion processing for
the digital image data output from the A/D converter 107 and the
digital image data recorded on the storage medium 112, and then
outputs an obtained analog image signal to the display unit 110.
The display unit 110 is, for example, a display device such as a
small LCD, and displays the input analog image signal. Note that
the display unit 110 functions as an electronic viewfinder by
inputting analog image signals successively captured and obtained
by the image capturing unit 105 to the display unit 110 through the
A/D converter 107 and D/A converter 109, and displaying (live-view
displaying) the processed signals on the display unit 110. If GUI
data and the like are superimposed on the analog image signals on
the display unit 110, digital image data combined with the GUI data
by a combining unit 114 is output to the D/A converter 109. For
example, the GUI data read out from the EEPROM 102 by the control
unit 101 and the digital image data output from the A/D converter
107 are input to the combining unit 114. The combining unit 114
combines the input data so that the GUI data is located at a
predetermined position of the digital image data. The combined
digital image data is output to the D/A converter 109, and
displayed on the display unit 110 after D/A conversion.
[0023] An operation input unit 111 analyzes an operation input
given by the user operation of the operation member (not shown) of
the digital camera 100, and transmits the given input instruction
to the control unit 101. The operation member (not shown) includes
a menu dial for switching the operation mode of the digital camera
100 among a still image capturing mode, a moving image capturing
mode, an image browse mode, and the like, a release button for
instructing image capturing, and a display button for switching
between enabling and disabling of live view display on the
above-described display unit 110.
[0024] The digital camera 100 of this embodiment has a temperature
detecting unit 113 which detects the temperature of an image sensor
as the image capturing unit 105. The temperature detecting unit 113
serves as, for example, a temperature sensor, which detects the
temperature of the whole image sensor, and transmits information
about the detected temperature to the control unit 101. Assume that
the digital camera 100 has four predetermined temperature
thresholds as shown below, and information about the plurality of
thresholds is stored in the EEPROM 102. That is, assume that the
digital camera 100 of this embodiment has the following four
temperature thresholds in ascending order: [0025] first temperature
T1: a temperature at which noise regarded as image quality
degradation occurs in a still image obtained by a still image
capturing operation; [0026] second temperature T2: a temperature at
which noise regarded as image quality degradation occurs in a
moving image obtained by a moving image capturing operation; [0027]
third temperature T3: a temperature at which it is indicated in
advance that the temperature of the image sensor will soon reach a
tolerance limit temperature and live view display will end; and
[0028] fourth temperature T4: a temperature at which the
temperature of the image sensor has reached the tolerance limit
temperature, and live view display ends.
[0029] Assume also that as shown in FIG. 2, an indication
associated with an image sensor temperature warning to be displayed
on the display unit 110 varies depending on a temperature threshold
range. Indication GUIs associated with temperature warnings may be,
for example, icons shown in FIG. 3 by which the user can
intuitively recognize a temperature, and any display method
including a method of blinking the icon may be applicable. Assume
that since an indication associated with a temperature warning
indicates to the user image quality degradation in still image
capturing or moving image capturing, display of the indication GUI
is repeated as long as the temperature of the image sensor falls
within a range in which an indication is necessary, regardless of
whether another GUI is displayed as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C.
[0030] The above-described four predetermined temperature
thresholds have a relationship of T1<T2<T3<T4. That is, as
compared with a still image, since the user rarely browses one
frame of a moving image for a long time, the user browsing the
moving image perceives less image quality degradation in the moving
image even if a high temperature of the image sensor causes noise
to some extent. The temperature (T2) of the image sensor at which
noise regarded as image quality degradation occurs in moving image
capturing is set higher than the temperature (T1) of the image
sensor at which noise regarded as image quality degradation occurs
in still image capturing. If live view display is performed on a
display area with a low spatial resolution such as a small LCD like
the display unit 110 of the digital camera 100, the user perceives
less image quality degradation as compared with a case of browsing
a moving image because of the size of the display area. Therefore,
noise level allowed in live view display for only displaying an
image in a small screen in real time is high as compared with a
moving image capturing operation for recording a moving image which
may be browsed on a large screen later. For this reason, the
temperature (T3) of the image sensor at which it is indicated in
advance that live view display will end and the temperature (T4) at
which live view display actually ends are set higher than the
temperature (T2) at which noise regarded as image quality
degradation occurs in moving image capturing.
[0031] Although the four thresholds and three temperature ranges
are set in advance with respect to the temperature of the image
sensor in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to
this. That is, in the present invention, at least two thresholds
are set, and if a detected temperature of the image sensor is
determined to exceed each threshold, the control unit 101 controls
to display a different indication associated with each image sensor
temperature warning on the display unit 110. Note that the
thresholds for the temperature of the image sensor may vary
depending on the sensitivity setting of the digital camera 100 when
capturing an image, and the like.
Temperature Warning Display Processing
[0032] Temperature warning display processing of the digital camera
100 with such configuration according to this embodiment will be
described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5. It
is possible to implement processing corresponding to the flowchart
when, for example, the control unit 101 reads out a corresponding
processing program stored in the EEPROM 102, maps the program on
the RAM 103, and then executes the program. Assume that the
temperature warning display processing starts when, for example,
the digital camera 100 is activated in a mode in which a still
image or moving image is captured, and the processing is executed
while live view display is performed on the display unit 110.
[0033] In step S501, the control unit 101 obtains an image signal
to be displayed on the display unit 110. More specifically, the
control unit 101 causes the image capturing unit 105 to output an
analog image signal, causes the A/D converter 107 to perform A/D
conversion processing for the obtained analog image signal, and
causes the RAM 103 to store the thus obtained digital image
data.
[0034] In step S502, the control unit 101 compares a temperature
Tin of the image sensor detected by the temperature detecting unit
113 with the respective four temperature thresholds which have been
set in advance and stored in the EEPROM 102. If the temperature of
the image sensor falls within the range from T1 (inclusive) to T2
(exclusive), the control unit 101 advances the process to step
5503. If the temperature of the image sensor falls within the range
from T2 (inclusive) to T3 (exclusive), the control unit 101
advances the process to step S504. If the temperature of the image
sensor falls within the range from T3 (inclusive) to T4
(exclusive), the control unit 101 advances the process to step
S505. Furthermore, if the temperature of the image sensor is lower
than T1, the control unit 101 advances the process to step S506. If
the temperature of the image sensor is not lower than T4, the
control unit 101 advances the process to step S508.
[0035] In step S503, upon capturing a still image, noise occurs in
the obtained still image, and thus the control unit 101 combines an
indication indicating that image quality degradation occurs with
the obtained image signal. More specifically, the control unit 101
reads out digital image data which has been stored in the RAM 103,
and GUI data which has been stored in the EEPROM 102 and indicates
that image quality degradation occurs in a still image in still
image capturing, and then outputs them to the combining unit 114.
The control unit 101 causes the combining unit 114 to combine the
digital image data and GUI data so that the GUI data is located at
a predetermined position on the digital image data.
[0036] In step S504, upon capturing a moving image, noise occurs in
the obtained moving image, and thus the control unit 101 combines
an indication indicating that image quality degradation occurs with
the obtained image signal. More specifically, the control unit 101
reads out digital image data which has been stored in the RAM 103,
and GUI data which has been stored in the EEPROM 102 and indicates
that degradation occurs in a moving image in moving image
capturing, and then outputs them to the combining unit 114. The
control unit 101 causes the combining unit 114 to combine the
digital image data and GUI data so that the GUI data is located at
a predetermined position on the digital image data.
[0037] In step S505, the control unit 101 combines, with the
obtained image signal, an indication which indicates, in advance,
to the user that the temperature of the image sensor approaches the
tolerance limit temperature (T4) and that live view display ends
when the temperature of the image sensor reaches the tolerance
limit temperature. More specifically, the control unit 101 reads
out digital image data which has been stored in the RAM 103, and
GUI data which has been stored in the EEPROM 102 and indicates in
advance that live view display ends, and then outputs them to the
combining unit 114. The control unit 101 causes the combining unit
114 to combine the digital image data and GUI data so that the GUI
data is located at a predetermined position on the digital image
data.
[0038] In step S506, the control unit 101 causes the combining unit
114 to output, to the D/A converter 109, digital image data
obtained by combining the digital image data as a captured image
and the GUI data, causes the D/A converter 109 to perform D/A
conversion processing for the received data, and causes the display
unit 110 to display the processed data. If the temperature of the
image sensor is determined in step S502 to be lower than T1, the
display unit 110 only displays the image signal.
[0039] In step S507, the control unit 101 determines whether the
user gives an operation input for switching between enabling and
disabling of live view display. More specifically, the control unit
101 determines whether an operation instruction for switching
between displaying and nondisplaying of live view display, that is,
an operation instruction for stopping outputting the image signal
to the display unit 110 is received from the operation input unit
111. If the operation instruction is received, the control unit 101
advances the process to step S508; otherwise, the control unit 101
returns the process to step S501.
[0040] In step S508, the control unit 101 controls the image
capturing unit 105 not to photoelectrically convert an optical
image while stopping live view display on the display unit 110 by
controlling to stop power supply to the display unit 110. The
temperature warning display processing thus ends.
[0041] In this embodiment, only an image signal captured by the
image capturing unit 105 and an indication associated with an image
sensor temperature warning are combined to be displayed on the
display unit 110. The present invention is not limited to this.
That is, it will readily occur to those skilled in the art that if
the user operates to switch to display information in image
capturing such as a histogram, and the like, GUI data such as the
information in image capturing is also combined. If the user
operates to switch to a mode in which live view display is not
performed, such as an image browse mode, the temperature warning
display processing is terminated and it is unnecessary to display
an indication associated with an image sensor temperature warning
on the display unit 110.
[0042] As described above, the image capturing apparatus of this
embodiment can indicate, step by step, to the user an operation to
be warned depending on the temperature of the image sensor. More
specifically, the image capturing apparatus has a plurality of
predetermined temperatures to be compared with the temperature of
the image sensor. Every time a detected temperature of the image
sensor exceeds one of the plurality of predetermined temperatures,
a different predetermined indication corresponding to the
predetermined temperature is displayed on the display device
together with an image signal output from the image sensor, thereby
giving a warning to the user.
[0043] In this way, the user can determine whether the temperature
of the image sensor is such that image quality degradation in a
captured and obtained still image is noticeable but image quality
degradation in a moving image is unnoticeable or such that image
quality degradation is noticeable when capturing a moving image.
That is, for example, it is possible to avoid a situation that even
if the temperature of the image sensor is such that it is possible
to capture a moving image without any problem, an image sensor
temperature warning is displayed, thereby missing an opportunity of
capturing an image. Note that the temperature of the image sensor
lowers when live view display ends. Therefore, if the user checks a
temperature waning given step by step, and then finds that image
quality degradation will occur in target capturing processing, the
user can perform target capturing processing without any image
quality degradation by terminating live view display to decrease
the temperature, and restarting live view display after a
while.
Modification of the Embodiment
[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the method in which a
warning is indicated depending on the temperature of the image
sensor and then the user determines whether it is possible to
capture an image has been explained. In this modification, unlike
the above-described embodiment, a method of determining the
temperature of the image sensor, and disabling the user from
capturing an image will be explained. The functional configuration
of the digital camera 100 according to the modification is assumed
to be the same as that of the digital camera 100 according to the
above-described embodiment and a description thereof will be
omitted.
Temperature Warning Display Processing
[0045] Temperature warning display processing of the digital camera
100 according to the modification will be explained in detail with
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6. It is possible to implement
processing corresponding to the flowchart when the control unit 101
reads out a corresponding processing program stored in the EEPROM
102, maps the program on the RAM 103, and then executes the
program. Assume that the temperature warning display processing
starts when, for example, the digital camera 100 is activated in a
mode in which a still image or moving image is captured, and the
processing is executed while live view display is performed on the
display unit 110. In the temperature warning display processing,
the same reference symbols are given to steps of the same processes
as in the above-described embodiment and a description thereof will
be omitted. Only processes of characteristic steps in this
modification will be explained.
[0046] If the temperature of the image sensor falls within the rage
from T1 (inclusive) to T2 (exclusive), the control unit 101
determines in step S601 whether the user gives an operation
instruction of capturing a still image. More specifically, the
control unit 101 determines whether an operation instruction of
capturing a still image is received from the operation input unit
111. If the operation instruction is received, the control unit 101
advances the process to step S602; otherwise, the control unit 101
advances the process to step S506.
[0047] In step S602, the control unit 101 does not record a still
image but reads out, from the EEPROM 102, GUI data indicating that
still image capturing is prevented, and outputs it to the combining
unit 114 to perform combining processing.
[0048] If the temperature of the image sensor falls within the
range from T2 (inclusive) to T3 (exclusive), the control unit 101
determines in step S603 whether the digital camera 100 is presently
capturing a moving image. If the digital camera 100 is presently
capturing a moving image, the control unit 101 advances the process
to step S604; otherwise, the control unit 101 advances the process
to step S605.
[0049] In step S604, the control unit 101 forcibly terminates
processing of recording a moving image regardless of whether an
operation instruction of aborting moving image capturing is given.
The control unit 101 outputs, to the combining unit 114, GUI data
which has been stored in the EEPROM 102 and indicates that moving
image capturing has been terminated because of the prospect of
image quality degradation, and causes the combining unit 114 to
perform combining processing.
[0050] The control unit 101 determines in step S605 whether the
user gives an operation instruction of capturing a moving image.
More specifically, the control unit 101 determines whether an
operation instruction of capturing a moving image is received from
the operation input unit 111. If the operation instruction is
received, the control unit 101 advances the process to step S606;
otherwise, the control unit 101 advances the process to step
S506.
[0051] In step S606, the control unit 101 does not record a moving
image but outputs, to the combining unit 114, GUI data which has
been stored in the EEPROM 102 and indicates that moving image
capturing is prevented, and causes the combining unit 114 to
perform combining processing. If the operation instruction of
capturing a still image is input in step S605, the control unit 101
outputs the GUI data indicating that still image capturing is
prevented to the combining unit 114 to perform combining processing
as in step S602.
[0052] If the temperature of the image sensor falls within the
range from T3 (inclusive) to T4 (exclusive), the control unit 101
determines in step S607 whether the user gives an operation
instruction of capturing a still image or moving image. More
specifically, the control unit 101 determines whether an operation
instruction of capturing a moving image is received from the
operation input unit 111. If the operation instruction is received,
the control unit 101 advances the process to step S608; otherwise,
the control unit 101 advances the process to step S506.
[0053] In step S608, the control unit 101 reads out, from the
EEPROM 102, GUI data corresponding to the operation instruction
detected in step S607, and outputs it to the combining unit 114 to
perform combining processing. That is, if the operation instruction
of capturing a still image is input by the user, the control unit
101 outputs the GUI data indicating that still image capturing is
prevented to the combining unit 114, as in step S602. If the user
gives the operation instruction of capturing a moving image, the
control unit 101 outputs the GUI data indicating that moving image
capturing is prevented to the combining unit 114, as in step
S606.
[0054] As described above, the image capturing apparatus of this
embodiment can indicate to the user a more detailed warning by
determining the temperature of the image sensor, and control not to
capture an image even if the user gives an instruction of capturing
an image without noticing the warning. That is, it is possible to
avoid capturing a still image and moving image with image quality
degradation, thereby providing the user with a still image and
moving image captured under good image capturing conditions.
[0055] In the above-described modification, the method of
preventing a still image and moving image for recording from being
captured has been explained. The present invention, however, is not
limited to this. For example, a manual white balance (MWB) setting
procedure of manually setting the white balance requires a step of
capturing a reference image for the white balance, that is, an
image defining white. If the temperature of the image sensor is
high, however, it is impossible to appropriately adjust the white
balance since noise occurs in the image defining white. Similarly,
some image capturing apparatuses store, together with a captured
image, dust delete data for specifying the position of a foreign
substance such as dust adhered to the image sensor or a lens so as
to delete the foreign substance from the image by image processing.
Such dust delete data is generated by recognizing the position of a
foreign substance in an image obtained by capturing a white object
so that the whole visual field becomes white. If the temperature of
the image sensor is high, noise occurs and it is impossible to
obtain an appropriate image processing result because, for example,
a portion of the noise is misrecognized as the position of a
foreign substance. In the present invention, therefore, if the
temperature of the image sensor exceeds the first temperature, a
reference image for the white balance and dust delete data may be
controlled not to be captured.
[0056] One hardware component may control the control unit 101, or
a plurality of hardware components may share processing, thereby
controlling the image capturing apparatus as a whole.
[0057] The present invention has been described in detail with
reference to the preferred embodiments but is not limited to them.
The present invention includes various modifications without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The
above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the
embodiments can be combined as needed.
Other Embodiments
[0058] Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a
computer of a system or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU)
that reads out and executes a program recorded on a memory device
to perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s), and
by a method, the steps of which are performed by a computer of a
system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing a
program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the
above-described embodiment(s). For this purpose, the program is
provided to the computer for example via a network or from a
recording medium of various types serving as the memory device
(e.g., computer-readable medium).
[0059] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
[0060] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2010-173966, filed Aug. 2, 2010, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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